Kidapawan next stop for Milo run

The 26th MILO Marathon goes from one end of the Philippines to the other end as it follows the recently-concluded race in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan Valley in northern Luzon to its next qualifying run in Kidapawan City in North Cotabato in Mindanao on Sept. 15.

This will be the second of three regional elimination races in Mindanao following the first one in Davao City last July and the third and last one in the island on October in Cagayan de Oro, and with MILO’s joint tourism promotion with the Department of Tourism, the event gives a chance to the region to show off its natural attractions.

Topping the list is beautiful Mawig Falls located at the foot of Mt. Apo in Barangay Balabag in Kidapawan and the relatively unknown centuries-old cinnamon trees at the Lake Venado area, 8,000 ft. above sea level, also in Mt. Apo, Kidapawan side.

Local race organizer Vic Sai, president of the Davao City Sports Council, expects over 4,000 entries in the regional race that will start and end in front of the Kidapawan City Hall. Mel Baquiano, Nestle Phils. area sales manager, will fire the starting gun while Mayor Luis Malaluan is expected to join movie and TV celebrities Jake Roxas and Sarah Christophers to award the prizes to top finishers. Christopher and Roxas will also join the 5K fun run.

Schools and colleges in the region, including Kidapawan National High School, Notre Dame College of Kidapawan, Central Mindanao Colleges, AMAS National High School and Kidapawan Elementary School among others have also responded to MILO’s call for the youth to get involved in sports and have entered their students in the event which also features inter-school team running competition and a cheering contest.

"Again we would like to reiterate that only runners in the region concerned with at least six months residency following the staging of the elimination run will be allowed to compete in the Kidapawan race and we will not hesitate to disqualify runners who misrepresent themselves, as we have done in past races to some of the winners. Each region in the Philippines has its own regional elimination race and we expect to see the top runners from these regions in the national 42K finals," said MILO Marathon national race organizer Rudy Biscocho.

Earlier this year, regional races have already been completed in Davao City, Roxas City, Lipa City, Tuguegarao in Cagayan, and Metro Manila while the other remaining regional elimination runs are set in Olongapo City, Cagayan de Oro, Naga City, Baguio City, and Cebu City,ß according to Biscocho.